WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice today announced during a ceremony
in Cary, North Carolina, that the state’s Accessibility Code has been awarded
certification for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
North Carolina is the sixth state in the country to receive ADA certification.

Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division
participated in the certification ceremony with several North Carolina
officials and recognized the state for meeting or exceeding the ADA
accessibility requirements for new construction and alterations.

“Securing ADA certification benefits both the citizens and businesses of North
Carolina,” said Assistant Attorney General Kim. “Now individuals with
disabilities can expect greater access to their community, while architects and
builders will have more confidence that by following state law, they are also
complying with federal ADA requirements.”

The Department issued its certification determination on November 28, 2005.
The ADA requires newly-built and altered public accommodations and commercial
facilities to be accessible to people with disabilities through compliance with
the requirements of Title III of the ADA, including the ADA Standards for
Accessible Design. To better coordinate the ADA construction requirements with
established state and local building inspection procedures, the ADA authorizes
the Justice Department to certify that submitted state or local accessibility
codes are equivalent to the ADA requirements.

Builders in North Carolina will find it simpler to comply with the ADA because
the ADA requirements for facility accessibility are included within the state’s
code requirements. Local officials in North Carolina responsible for
implementing state code requirements through plan review and building
inspections will be able to check to determine compliance early in the design
and construction process, when mistakes are more easily and inexpensively
corrected.

In addition, because ADA certification provides rebuttable evidence of ADA
compliance, builders in North Carolina will have some additional legal
protection in ADA lawsuits if they build in compliance with the certified code.
Certification cannot apply, however, to variances, waivers or exemptions from
ADA requirements if granted under the certified code.

The Justice Department is committed to working with states to obtain
certification for ADA-equivalent accessibility requirements. Previously, the
Justice Department certified the accessibility codes of Texas, Maine, Florida,
and Maryland. The Justice Department is currently working with several other
states seeking ADA certification. These efforts work toward a fuller
realization of President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative, which promotes
increased access to daily community life for Americans with disabilities.

For further information, individuals can contact the Justice Department’s
toll-free ADA Information Line. The hotline was established as part of a
nationwide campaign to educate the public about the ADA. The number is
800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY). The Justice Department also has
established an ADA homepage on the Internet at http://www.ada.gov.